Eco-friendly Fairtrade Towns nominated at this year's Green Awards

03/11/2009 - London

The new Fairtrade Towns digital offering for the Fairtrade Foundation has been nominated for Best Green Website at this year's Green Awards.

The Green Awards raise awareness of green issues, showcasing those companies and individuals committed to a green and sustainable future. Fairtrade Town's nomination is just reward for a site that brings global communities together to create much-needed change.

Reading Room created a dedicated web presence, encouraging campaigner-to-campaigner communications and creating a portal for like-minded people to exchange ideas and best practice. Users can access the expertise required to bring Fairtrade to their area. What started with a website is fast becoming an international movement for change.

With 18 countries already running Fairtrade Town campaigns and many more following their lead - including Poland, Czech Republic, Ghana and Brazil - the site is driving the campaign into new and diverse countries. With more and more countries signing up and creating their own initiatives, the site has become an essential tool in achieving the Fairtrade Foundation's objective of a fairer and more sustainable world.

By providing all 700 Fairtrade Towns with the tools and materials they need online, the site has eradicated the need to ship materials across the globe. What's more, the site has also removed the need for environmentally damaging international travel, offering worldwide members an online platform for international exchange.

Fairtrade Towns Campaign Manager, Hannah Reed comments, "The Fairtrade Foundation is delighted to hear that the Fairtrade Town website has been shortlisted for the Best Green Website Award. The site has already been used by people from over 120 communities worldwide, creating connections without carbon emissions and further strengthening a unique people's movement. We are stronger when we stand together and the site has proved a unique and effective tool to unite people everywhere in taking action to ensure more producers in developing countries can get a fair deal from trade and create a better, more sustainable future for themselves."

This year's winners will be announced on November 18th at the LSO St Luke's in London

Visit the Fairtrade Towns website